Wire printing typewriter



Sept. 9, 1958 H. J. KISTNER WIRE PRINTING TYPEWRITER 8 sheets-sheet 1Filed Jpne 20, 1955 INVENTOR.

7 A7 OR/VEV Sept 9, 1958 H. J. K ISTNER WIRE PRINTING TYPEWRITER FiledJune 20, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

fi/amf Mar/me ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1958 H. J. KISTNER 2,851,141

' WIRE PRINTING TYPEWRITER Filed June 20, 1955 V s Sheets-Sheet :5

' INVENTOR.

- flnzazp J/f/Jm m Airmen 5y Sept. 9, 1958 Filed June 20, 1955 H. J.KISTNER 2 WIRE PRINTING TYPEWRITER 8 Shee ts-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. f/flsr/vmSept. 9, 1958 Filed June 20, 1955 I H. J. KISTNER WIRE PRINTINGTYPEWRITER 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. fl mw J (UTA/16 ATTOEA/H Sept 9,1958 H. J. KISTNER 2,851,141

WIRE PRINTING TYPEWRITER Filed June 20, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet s O 0 OOOYNVENTOR. #406040 J mam 5Q Sept. 8 H. J. KISQTNER Q 2,851,141

ma PRINTING TYPEWRITER Filed June 20, 1955 I a Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VENTOR. fi z/2 m J AlSTA/Fk United Patent Emi WIRE PRINTING TYPEWRITERHarold J. Kistner, Union, N. Y., assignor to International BusinessMachines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication June 20, 1955, Serial No. 516,354

12 Claims. (Cl. 197-1) The present invention relates to a wire printingtypewriter and more particularly to a typewriter apparatus 1n which agroup of wires are arranged with one end portion of each wire in aparticular position in a cluster and carried by a printing head so as toprint selected characters by a mosaic printing system. These wires areadapted for free solely-longitudinal movement relative to each other sothat certain of the wires in the cluster may be projected slightlyforwardly of the others and then when the head is brought intoengagement with a surface on which the impression of the wire is to beplaced or against a typewriter ribbon interposed between the wires andpaper to be written upon, a character will be reproduced depending uponwhich of the wires are projected forwardly of the others. The other orremote end of each of the wires is positioned in a wire setting zone asis conventional in wire printing apparatus. The present arrangementfurther involves the provision of power means such as a continuouslyrotating power drive roll for providing power for actuating each of anumber of necessary operating means incident to the operation of thetypewriter. In general, the typewriter arrangements other than thoseparticularly involved with the Wires and their actuation by the severalkeys or otherwise may be substantially conventional in accordance withwell known typewriter constructions now on the market. The descriptionwill, therefore, be confined to the novel features of the invention overand above those now in use or which are usable in accordance with knownconstruction for power drive typewriters.

Summarizing the present invention, it involves the use of a code rodmeans including one or more code rods, each of which may be in the formof a cylinder movable axially and by rotation about the axis thereof forpositioning different portions of the cylindrical surface opposite theends of the wires which are to be set in a wire setting zone. Preferablycertain depressions or holes are formed in the code rod where a wire isnot to be moved longitudinally and the depressions or holes are omittedwhere it is desired to move a wire longitudinally. Then upon relativemovement between the code rod means on the one hand, and the wire endson the other, the wires to be moved longitudinally are movedsimultaneously so as to set up the wires to print a given character.Each of the characters to be printed may correspond, in accordance witha predetermined code, with a particular position of the code rod meansboth axially and rotationwise, or, from a broader point of View, in twodirections at right angles to one another and in which both of saiddirections are at right angles to the parallelly arranged Wire ends atthe wire setting zone. It is preferred in accordance with the presentinvention that the code rod positioning means be actuated by power froma conventional power drive roll as aforesaid, but under the control ofcoded means, which in a preferred form includes two groups of movablemembers, there preferably being four members in one group capable ofmoving the code rod or rods axially by increments of 1, 2, 4 and 8 timesthe mini- "ice mum axial movement increment and two members in the othergroup which are jointly and severally capable of moving each code rod byrotational increments, for example, of each with a maximum amphtude ofrotational position of 270. Superimposed upon these code rod positioningmeans is preferably a seventh movable member for shifting the code rodmeans by an unequal multiple of the increment of movement in onedirection, for example, by 45 of rotation where the increment ofrotational adjustment is 90. This is preferably arranged to bring acomplete new set of wire positioning portions of the code rod intoalignment with the .wires to be positioned, so as to position the wiresfor upper case characters, on the one hand, and the lower case on theother. The seven movable members above defined may be actuated under thecontrol of manually depressible keys, which in turn mechanically controlthe flow of power from the power drive roll to the several movablemembers in accordance with a predetermined code. Alternatively, theseveral movable members may be actuated by the power drive roll undercontrol of electrical means as solenoids, which in turn are controlledelectrically by respective control circuits. Under such circumstancesthe circuits may be actuated by contacts arranged to be made inaccordance with a predetermined code by the depression of manuallydepressible keys. Alternatively, the several circuits aforesaid may beactuated by any remote control means capable of circuit actuation inaccordance with a multiple digit code, as is well known in the art.

Other and more detailed features of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description and will be pointed out in the appendedclaims, all when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, which disclose, by way of example, two embodiments of theprinciples of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view partly diagrammatic and partly in side elevationillustrating a typewriter construction provided with a mechanical meansfor positioning a code rod for the setting of wires for wire printing,some features being omitted for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detailed view showing certain additional partsof the construction on a somewhat enlarged scale with respect to Fig. land substantially on the line 22 of that figure;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed view taken substantially on the line3-3 of Fig. 1 and on an enlarged scale showing some of the actuatingmechanism for certain ofth movable members;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailed view illustrating th construction andmode of operation of the means for relatively moving the code rod meansand the wire ends;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed view illustrating the operation of apart of the vcode rod rotation positioning means responsive to thesecond group of movable members and further illustrating the rotationpositioning means for upper and lower case selection;

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views each in fragmentary vertical sectionillustrating the manner in which wires are positioned by relativemovement of a code rod and the wire end;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detailed view illustrating substantially inelevation the operation of the printing head and the contact for causingthe resetting of the wires following the printing of a character;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary face view of the cluster of wire ends at theprinting head, the view being taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig.8;

Fig. 10 is a view generally similar to a portion of Fig. 1 showing amodified form of the invention, in which the movable members arepositioned electrically by solenoids and in which the character keys areeffective to control the electric actuation of these solenoids;

which is shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, of the accompanying drawings,there is illustrated a typewriter apparatus which may be assumed to beconventional or constructed in any desired manner, for example, aspresent commercial poweroperated typewriters, with the exception .of theparticular parts hereinafter specifically described. As a result, therehas been no attempt to illustrate in detail the entire construction ofthe typewriter apparatus or the particular construction of any portionsof the device which are not directly tied to the present invention.

As shown, for example, in Fig. 1, there is a frame or housing generallyindicated at 20 including a laterally movable carriage 21 carrying theusual rotatable platen '22. The construction of all these parts may beconsidered essentially conventional. There is also illustrated in 'manyfigures of the drawing a continuously rotating power drive roll 24,which is also conventional in many commercial typewriters of the powerdrive type. The roll '24 is rotated continuously in the direction of thearrow shown in the several figures by suitable motor means (not shown).This roll corresponds, for example, to the roll 24 shown in the patentto Von Reppert, No. 2,379,- 843, granted July 3, 1945, and also toequivalent means shown in many other patents.

"The-typewriter apparatus illustrated is provided with the usualalphabetical or numerical keys 25 hereinafter referred to generically ascharacter keys. The several keys are mounted and arranged for selectivemanual operation by depressing each key in a substantiallyconventional'manner. As shown, for example, one of these keys is carriedby akey lever 26, which is pivoted on a suitable transverse rod 27mounted in a part rigid with the frame of the machine. The key lever 26has a downwardly extending projection 28 having a bifurcated endarranged to embrace a transverse pin 29 carried by and projecting from acam latch trip .lever 30. This trip lever, when moved clockwise aboutits pivot 31, is arranged to release a rotatable cam member 32 forengagement with the power drive roll 24, this engagement beingfacilitated by a torsion spring (not shown), which is adapted to rotatethe cam member 32 by a small 1 amount in a clockwise direction, as seenin Fig. 1, to

bring a roughened or knurled portion thereof into contact -withtheperiphery of the drive roll 24. This construc- 'tion also-is entirelyconventional in many commercial power driven typewriters now in commonuse and is xhownalso, for example, in the von Reppert patent aforesaid.

It will be understoodthat there are a plurality of units Fig. 2, andbeing arranged in staggered relation on both isides-of the power driveroll 24, as particularly shown inFigILZ. "Itwill' further be understoodthat certain of .the keys 25 have their key levers so arranged asto.trip

cam units on the right hand side, as seen in Figs. 1

and 2, ofthe roll 24, while other keys are arranged to coopefatewith thecam units on the left side of this roll. Tracing now the'operation ofthe device through a cam 'unit on the left side of the machine operatedby the key "leverz26 shown in Fig. 1, the cam unit 33 as a whole ismounted upon a rockable lever device generally indicated at 34.andpivoted on a transverse rod 35, which in turn is secured to a part fixedwith respect to the frame of the machine. Thus, when the rotatable cammember 32 is released by the trip lever 30 as above set forth, theengagement of this rotatable member with the driven roller 24 willresult in rocking the entire device 34 about the axis of the pivot rod35 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1.

At its outer end, each lever device 34 is pivoted as at 36 to asubstantially vertically movable notched slide member 37. Thus, when thelever device 34 is actuated as aforesaid, it will result in moving theslide member 37 upwardly, as seen in Fig. 1. As shown, this slide memberhas six notches formed therein, three on each side, and the shouldersprovided by the respective notches are arranged for cooperation with acorresponding number of rocker bails 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43, whichare mounted for rocking movement respectively about horizontal axesindicated by center shafts as shown at 44, 45 and 46 for rocker bails38, 39and 49 respectively, these shafts further being shown in Fig. 3.

The rocker bails 38 and 41 are shown in plan in Fig. 2, which also showssome portions of the rocker bails 38' and 41' associated with the camunits 33 to the right of the power drive roller 24 of Fig. 1. Certain ofthe rocker bails are prvoided with cut out portions opposite certain ofthe notched portions of different slide members 37 in accordance with apredetermined code. Thus, when a particular slide member 37 operated bya particular character key is caused to .move upwardly in the mannerpreviously described, it will move certain ones of the rocker bails inaccordance with the code equivalent of the particular character keyactuated. As there are six rocker bails, all associated with the slidemembers 37 in prolongation of the one shown in Fig. 1, it will be seenthat each character key can actuate certain of the six assocated rockerbailsin accordance with a six element code. Inasmuch as different codesmay be chosen which will give desired results, no one particular codewill be set out in detail herein, but it will be understood thata-diflerent combination of the six elements of the code is arranged tostand for each of the character keys respectively.

Also, as certain of the keys 25 are arrangedto operate cam units 33 tothe right of the power drive roller 24 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, aduplicate set of equipment including trip levers 30', lever devices 34',slide members 37"and rocker bails 38, 39, 40', 41', 42' and 43 areprovided, equivalent respectively to the structures identified by thecorresponding unprimed numbers and previously described. Inasmuch asthis equipment is merely a duplication of the equipment previouslydescribed in detail, it will not be further described.

It is desired to operate six horizontally movable members shown at 47,48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 (Fig. 2) in response to actuation of the sixrocker bails 38 to 43. The arrangements for accomplishing this purposeare as follows. The shaft 46, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is providedwith a downwardly extending lever 53 secured thereto and pivoted to themovable member 48 as shown e154. The shaft 45 is provided with alaterally extendinglever 55, which is connected by. ashort link 56 to abell crank lever 57 loosely pivoted on the shaft 46 and having its otherarm extending downwardly and pivoted to one of the'movable members suchas the member 50, The uppermost shaft 44 has a laterally extending lever58 secured thereto which is connected by a vertically disposed link 59to a laterally extending portion of a hell crank lever 60 also loose onthe shaft 46 and having :1 downwardly extending arm pivoted to one ofthe movable members, as the member 52.

In a similar manner the rocker bails 41, 42 and 43 are articulated toand arranged to operate the longiin Figs. 1 and 3 and previouslydescribed in some detail.

It will be understood that the mechanism shown at the right of the'powerdrive roller 24 and including the notched slides 37' and the rockerbails 38 through 43, inclusive, is also mechanically connected tomovable members 47 to 52 in a manner exactly similar to the manner ofconnecting the corresponding rocker bails previously described. Theseveral parts are given the same reference characters as thecorresponding parts respectively, but with a prime mark added.

The movable members 47 to 52, inclusive, are arranged to position one ormore code bars so as in turn to control the longitudinal positioning ofselected ones of a group of wires, which in turn are efiective to printa character corresponding to that desired. The embodiment of theinvention shown in Figs. 1 through 9 is essentially;

a mechanical type arrangement in which the power effective to position asingle code rod, in this instance, is derived from the power driveroller 24 through the mechanism previously described to position themovable members 47 to 52, inclusive, respectively in accordance with adesired code for each character key, so as in turn to transmit force forpositioning the code rod in each of two directions substantially atright angles to each other and particularly both substantially at rightangles to the direction of the ends of the wires to be positioned.

The arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings is one in which thereis but a single code rod shown at 61, which in this instance is in theform of a hollow cylinder and is positionable in two directions withrespect to the wire ends to be actuated or positioned thereby. As shownparticularly in Figs. 6 and 7, the wire ends are arranged parallel toone another and all substantially vertical in a single line. The coderod 61 is movable in a direction parallel to that line, i. e. axially ofthe cylindrical shape thereof. It is also rotatable about its own axis.The movable members 47 to 52, inclusive, are arranged as hereinafterparticularly described to position the code rod both axially androtatably, in otherv words in two directions at substantially rightangles to one another, so as to bring into alignment with the wire endssuitable coded portions of the code rod. It will be understood that ifdesired more than one code rod could be used, for example, two or more,and themeans-for operating the single code rod of the present inventioncould be duplicated to the extent necessary so as to operate both or allthe code rods provided simultaneously as to their axial and rotativepositioning. It will be further understood that while a substantiallycylindrical code rod is shown here, this arrangement is one ofconvenience only, as any code rod equipment which provides a surfacemovable in two directions at substantially right angles to one anotherand wherein the surface is provided with properly coded depressions (orholes as shown) and undepressed portions would be effective to carry outthe present invention.

Further, while it is conceivable that coded elements such as the movablemembers 47 to 52 may be used, greater or less in number than six, andwhile any desired ones or number of these could be used to position thecode rod means axially, with the remainder to position this code rodmeans in a transverse or rotative direction, the present arrangementshows the provision of means by which four of the six movable elements47 to 52 are used to position the code rod 61 in an axial direction, forexample, in increments of l, 2, 4 and 8 times a predetermined unitincrement of axial movement, while the other two movable elements of themembers 47 to 52 are arranged to control the rotative positioning of theone or more code rods 61 provided. Thus, for example, one of the movablemembers 47 to 52, as the member 47, is connected to a lever 62 (Fig. l)which is pivoted on a fixed pivot shaft 63 and has its other endconnected to a wedge member 64. Another one of the movable members 47 to52, as the member 48, is connected to a lever located immediately behindthe lever 62, as seen in Fig. 1, and which is also pivoted on the shaft63 and is connected intermediate its ends at 65 to a wedge member 66. Ineach instance the linkage may be such as to give 2:1 ratio of movementbetween the movement of the actuating movable members 47 to 52 on theone hand and the movement of wedge members respectively on the other. Ina similar way another one of the movable members 47 to 52, as the member49, is connected to a lever 7 pivoted on a fixed pivot shaft 68 andconnected to a wedge member 69. A fourth one of the movable members 47to 52, as the member 50, is connected to a lever immediately behind thelever 67 as seen in Fig. l and also pivoted on the shaft 68 and andwhich is connected to operate a wedge member 70. If these wedge membersare then so contoured as generally taught, for example, in the patent toJohnson, No. 2,524,127, granted October 3, 1950, and shown on Figs. 6and 7 of that patent, then it will be possible to move the upper ends ofone or more of the stacks of wedge and roller members 71 and 72 upwardlyby amounts proportioned to the coded amounts for the respective movablemembers 47, 48, 49 and 50 operating these stacks. As shown, the stacks71 and 72 are preferably mounted so that their lower ends (not shown)are fixed in position. The upper movable ends of these stacks areconnected together by a pivoted cross link 73, a center point of whichis pivoted at 74 to a lever arm 75 which is pivoted at 76 on atransverse shaft. Arranged for movement with the lever arm 75 about thepivot 76 is a downwardly extending lever arm 77, the lower end portionof which is swivelly mounted at 78 to a rearwardly extending actuatingrod 79, which in turn is arranged to carry and to move the code rod 61in an axial direction. It will be understood that the connection at 78is one permitting free rotation of the actuating rod 79, whilecontrolling the longitudinal positioning thereof. Suitable means, suchas a spring 80, may be arranged tooppose'themovement hereinabovedescribed and to restrict the position of the code rod to a normalinitial position furthest to the right as seen in Fig. 1 once the forceeffective to position it otherwise has been released. As statedhereinabove, the several movable members which are connected to thewedge means of the stacks 71 and 72 are preferably arranged to move thecode rod axially in amounts equal to l, 2, 4 and 8 times a unitincrement of movement, respectively so as to provide in four elements ofthe six element code for a desired number of different axial positionsof the code rod means. In the event that more than one code rod is used,all such code rods are arranged to be simultaneously positioned in anaxial direction by the means described including the lever arm 77.

The other movement of the code rod means, i. e. the rotative movement,is actuated by a third wedge and roller stack generally indicated at 81in Fig. 5. As shown in this figure, one of the movable members, forexample the member 51 indicated in that figure, is connected to a lever82 corresponding generally to the lever 62 of Fig. 1 and pivoted on astationary transversely extending shaft 83. The upper end of this leveris connected to a wedge means 84. Similarly, another one of the movablemembers, for example the member 52, may be connected to a leverimmediately in rear of the lever 82 as seen in Fig. 5 and also pivotedon the transverse shaft 83 and which is connected intermediate its endsto a wedge means 85 in the same way previously described. In thisinstance, the upper end of the wedge and roller stack Sll'is fixed, sothat the lower end is moved upwardly or downwardly in accordance withthe positioning of the wedges, suitable means (not shown) such assprings being used resiliently to oppose movement of the lower end ofthe stack. -As shown, the

lower end of thestaek 81 is provided with a rack member 86 arranged tomesh wi'thand rotate a pinion 87 carried by the rod 79 and of suchlength that it will always mesh with the rack 86 irrespective of theaxial positioning of the code rod 61 by the means previously described.

The rotative means just described is preferably arranged to move thecode rod means, in this case the cylindrical code rod 61, in incrementsof movement, for example, of 90 with a total amplitude of movement of270.

In order that the typewriter device of the present invention may bearranged for printing both upper and lower case characters in a mannercorresponding to conventional typewriters, there is provided a shift keyand associated mechanism which is effective to rotate the code rod meansthrough an angle difierent from the angular increments of rotation abovedescribed, and preferably about 45". This 45 movement may besuperimposed upon the movements'incident to the coded character keys, soas to bring an entirely new set of depressions and undepressed portionsof the code rod means opposite the wire ends.

For this purpose there is provided, as shown best in Fig. 5, a shift key88 mounted upon a key lever 89, which in turn is pivoted on the shaft 27or some stationary pivot means. portion 90 having a bifurcated end shownat 91 to embrace a pin 92 carried by the upper end portion of a triplever 93, which is similar in construction and mode of operation to thetrip levers 30 and 30 previously described. The trip lever 93 isarranged, when actuated by the depression of the shift key 88, torelease a cam member 94 and permit it to be brought into engagement withthe power drive roller 24 by a torsion spring (not shown), but which isconventional in apparatus of this type. Engagement of the cam member 94with the power drive roll isefiective to move a lever 95counterclockwise about its pivot shaft 96, as seen in Fig. 5. The lever95' is connected through a link 97 with the upper end portion of 'alever 98 pivoted at 99 and connected at its lower end to a wedge means100, which is effective to move the wedge stack 81 so as to rotate thecode rod means through a predetermined angle, for example 45, throughthe rack 86 and pinion 87 as aforesaid. It will be understood thatsuitable spring means (not shown), preferably in the form of one or moreheavy springs, are arranged in conjunction with the wedge and rollerstack 81 for returning the elements, of this stack and the code rod 91rotatably positioned thereby to their initial position once the wedgemeans have been returned to their respective initial positions; andfurther, that other spring means (not shown) are arranged to return therespective wedge means to their initial positions once they are releasedby the respectively associated cam means by which they were actuated.Inasmuch, as all these means are essentially conventional and within theability of those skilled in the art to provide as and where necessary,they are not shown in detail herein.

It may now be assumed that the code rod means including the one or morecode rods 61 provided as aforesaid have been positioned at the properposition both longitudinally and laterally (by rotation) in order toposition the printing wires for the printing, of a desired character, beit an upper or a lower case character. The next operation which must bedone is to set the wires to be used in the printing of the character inquestion by a longitudinal movement of certain of these wires, theproper ones to print the character desired. For example, if it bedesired to print the letter A and if there are a group of wires asparticularly shown in Pig. 9 arranged, for example, in seven verticalrows of five wires each, the wires shown with darkened ends in Fig. 9are the ones to be projected forwardly of the other wires, so as toprint the desired'character. other combinations, such The key lever 89has a downwardly extending for example as those shown in the JohnsonPatent No. 2,524,127 aforesaid, particularly in Fig. 8 of that patent,may be used for printing other letters and characters. The setting ofthe wires is eifected froma general point of view by a relative motiontoward one another between the code rod means and the wire ends. Thiswill result, as shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, in moving certain wiresupwardly (Fig. 6) where the ends thereof are opposite undepressedportions of the code rod means; and in making no change in the positionof other wires (Fig. 7) where the ends are opposite depressions or holesin the code rod means.

Turning now to the details of the particular form of apparatus shown inthe accompanying drawings, each of the wires 101 is ararnged to passfreely through a hole in a fixed plate 102. Each wire has afiixed to itslower end an intertia block 103 which is arranged to be verticallyslidable in suitably shaped guideways in a housing and in a slide member104, the slide member 104 being common to a number of wires which are inalignment with one another and are one behind another in the views shownin Figs. 6 and 7. The wires pass downwardlyas indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 1 and may be arranged in one or more rows depending upon thenumber of code rods actually used. As shown in the accompanyingdrawings, there is but one code rod 61, so that all the wires will beassumed to be arranged with their lower ends in a single vertical plane,this plane being arranged to contain the axis of the code rod 61. Thewires at the start of the operation are in the position shown in Fig. 7and certain of them may be moved from that position, for example, to theposition of the parts shown in Fig.6 by engagement between therespective wire ends at' 105 with undepressed sections 106 respectivelyof the code rod 61. If, however, a depression, or in the presentinstance a hole, is located opposite the end of a particular wire, suchas that shown in Fig. 7, relative movement between such wire end 105 andthe code rod 61 in a vertical direction as seen in Figs. 6 and 7 and ina vertical direction in the apparatus as presently disclosed will resultin no movement of the respective wire, the wire end passing freelythrough an aligned hole as at 107.

While it is considered that the results just described of positioningthe wires in directions longitudinally thereof respectively could beeffected by any relative movement between the wire ends 105 on the onehand, and the' code rod 61 on the other, the apparatus illustrated inthe accompanying drawings is arranged to move the code rod meansvertically, while retaining the wire ends stationary; except for themovement thereof incident to impingement against undepressed portions ofa code rod,.as shown in Fig. 6. Thus, the code rods are moved, as shownin Figs. 6 and 7, from the position indicated by the dotted outline tothe full line position thereof shown in these figures; This movement iseifected by power derived from the power drive roll, which is caused toact at a predetermined time after the mechanical impulses have beentransmitted to position the code rod as aforesaid.

For this purpose, each of the lever devices 34 or 34 is provided with anextended actuating portion as shown at 108 in Fig. 4, the lower edge ofwhich is positioned a predetermined distance above a lower flange 109 ofa bail 110. The bail 110 is mounted for substantially vertical movement,for example, by being held in two or more levers 111 pivoted on thetransverse rod 35. Carried rigidly with the bail 110 and lever 111 is arearwardly extending lever portion 112 having a bifurcated end 113 forengaging a pin 114 of a trip latch 115 controlling a cam device 116which is rotatably carried by a lever 117 pivoted at 118.

Thus, when any of the lever devices 34 is actuated as aforesaid by acharacter key for initiating an operation of positioning the code rodmeans, all as above described, there will be a certain delay perioduntil the lower edge portion of the actuating portion 108 engages theflange 109. This time delay is calculated to be sufiicient in practiceto permit the positioning of the code rod 61 prior to the actuation ofthe code rod raising means hereinafter particularly described incidentto the operation of the cam member 116. This means operates in asubstantially conventional manner which will now be obvious from thedrawings and the description, the trip latch 115 reelasing the camdevice 116to move into engagement with the power drive roll 24. Oncethis engagement has been started, the rotation of the cam member 116 bythe power drive roll will result in the counterclockwise movement (asseen in Fig. 4) of the lever 117 about its pivot shaft 118 against thetension of a spring 119. A suitable stop (not shown) prevents excessiveclockwise movement of the lever 117 under the tension of the spring 119so that the cam device 116 will engage the roll 24 only when released bythe actuation of the latch 115 as aforesaid. counterclockwise movementof the lever 117 will move a wedge slide 120, pivoted to the lower endof the lever 117, to the right, as seen in Fig. 4, and cause wedge means121 thereon to ride under rollers 122, which are mounted on a carriage123 in which the code rod 61 is mounted for 1ongitudinal and rotativemovement. It will be understood that the actuating rod 79 for the coderod 61 is sufficiently flexible to permit this movement without rotatingthe code rod incident to relative movement between the pinion 87 and therack 86. Thus, the code rod, which need only be raised a very smallamount to efiect a positioning of the wire ends, is raised due to therollers 122 riding up on the wedge means 121, so as to move the entirecode rod means upwardly without otherwise changing the position thereofand so as to move certain of the wires forwardly in accordance with theparticular code combination being applied, so as to position the forwardends of these wires, for example as shown in Fig. 9, to print a desiredcharacter. Once the cam device 116 has been rotated throughsubstantially 180", the engagement thereof with the power drive roll 24will cease and the only force effective upon the lever 117 will then bethat of the spring 119, which is effective at this time to retract thewedge slide 120 and to permit the downward movement of the code rodmeans to its initial position.

The next operation to be eflected is to move a printing head 124, suchas that shown in Figs. 8 and 9, forwardly to cause the wires 101 whichhave been projected as aforesaid to engage either the paper to beprinted or a conventional ribbon, so as to print the desired characterin a more or less conventional manner. For this reason the printing head124 is mounted on an arm 125 of a bell crank lever pivoted on atransverse shaft 126 and arranged to engage the platen 22 and paper orother material thereon in a conventional way. It will be understood thatthe several wires 101 are disposed with their upper ends at the printinghead 124, for example as shown in Fig. 9, and pass therefrom through atube 127 (Fig. 1) and thence through suitable means restricting thesewires to longitudinal movement respectively.

Once the proper wires to print a character have been positioned asaforesaid, it is necessary to move the printing head forwardly byclockwise movement of the lever 125 as seen in Fig. 8. For this purpose,means are provided, actuated by the means for positioning the wires, inother words, by the lever 117 (Fig. 4). This lever carries a laterallyprojecting portion 128 which is arranged to engage the lower end of atrip lever 129 after the lever 117 has moved sutficiently to assure thecompletion of the operation of setting the wires. The trip lever 129 isarranged to release a rotatable cam 130, Fig. 8', for engagement wtihthe power drive roll 24 in a manner similar to that in which otherrotatable cams previously described are arranged to operate. The cam 130is carried by the lower end of a lever 131 which may also be mountedupon the shaft pivot 118 and which has rigid therewith a rearwardlyprojecting portion 132, the rear or outer end of which is pivoted at 133to a link 134, which is also pivoted at its upper end to a forwardlyprojecting arm 135 of the bell crank lever 125. Thus, the printing head124 will be actuated by power derived from the power drive roll 24 at atime a sufficient interval after the initiation of the raising of thecode rod, so that the wires will have been positioned prior to themovement of the printing head 124. It will be understood that once thecam has made a half revolution, the printing head will be retractedunder the influence of suitable spring means (not shown) in readinessfor resetting the wires 101 and printing the next character.

The next and last operation which must be effected in the present deviceis that of resetting the wires in their initial retracted position (withrespect to the printing head), which is preferably accomplished byelectrical means shown in part only and responsive to the completion ofthe forward movement of the printing head in printing a character. Whenthe printing head 124 is moved forwardly by clockwise movement of thelever 125 (as seen in Fig. 8), a rear portion of this lever will engagea movable electrical contact of a contact pair 136 to complete a circuitto solenoid means (not shown), which is arranged mechanically to movethe slide 104 downwardly to move the wires 101 and their inertia blocks103 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7,which is the normal position thereof. The slide 104 is then returned byspring means (not shown) to its normal position shown in both Figs. 6and 7. The slide 104 has at its upper edge an inturned flange 137adapted to overlie all the inertia blocks 103, so that after the wireends and the code rod have been separated by relative movementtherebetween, with the code rod returning, for example, to the positionshown in dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7, the flange member 137 willengage the upper end portions of the blocks 103 of each of the wireswhich has been moved upwardly (as seen in Fig. 6 as aforesaid) and willmove these blocks and consequently the wires 101 carried therebyrespectively to the initial position of these weights and wires shown inFig. 7. This is effected by an instantaneous actuation of the solenoidmeans associated with the slide 104; following which the slide and theactuating solenoid means therefor are returned to the normalinitialpositi'on of these parts shown as to the slide 104 in Fig. 7.Meanwhile, the several cams have completed their cycles of operation andhave been moved to their respective inoperative positions, so that allthe parts are now returned by suitable associated springs, only a few ofwhich are shown in the drawings, to their initial positions in readinessfor actuation to print a next succeeding character.

It will be understood that lateral spacing of the platen may beaccomplished by means conventional in power operated typewriters in theprior art and actuated following the completion of the printing of acharacter, for example, by electrical means initiated in their operationby the closing of the contacts 136, Fig. 8. Carriage return and otherconventional typewriter functions may be operated as is conventional inpower operated typewriters now commercially available.

In Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, of the accompanying draw ings are shownportions of a modified form of the device in which electrical means areused to control the actuation of the movable members 47 through 52 bythe continuously rotating power roll 24 in lieu of the more strictlymechanical means shown and described with respect to the precedingfigures. In addition, a means for translating the movement of each of aplurality of character keys as are provided on the conventionaltypewriter into a six unit electrical code is providedirieoniunction-with this form of the "device. There is furtherillustrated in Fig. -14 an electric circuit by which -the character keysare arranged "selectively 'to energize-certain of a plurality of relays,there being sixrelayscorresponding to the six elements of the code asdisclosed for thepreceding form of the invention. The relays in turncontrol the energization of solenoid means which a control poweroperated cams respectively for controlling the movement of the members47 to 52, inelusive.

It -will further be understood that if desired the electrical-meansactuated by the character keys of this form of'the invention could beused 'to control the operation of 'a' plurality of typewriters, eachcorresponding generally to that hereinafter particularly described. In amore or less similar 'manner, a six digit code can be'arranged"=to-'actuate the present typewriter of the type illustratedinFigs. I'0- 14-whether that codebederived directly from the operatio'n ofcharacter keys on this or another machine, or whether the relaysactuated'by and in accordance with the electrical pulsesin a six digitcodejbe actuated in fact by remote control orpossibly'by a tape 'orotherwise. All these modifications will occurto those 'skilled'in theartfrom' the'description presently given of this semi-electrical fonnofthepresent invention.

Turning'rnow' to the form of the invention shown in Figs.'l0 to 14, andparticularly to Fig. 10, there are a plurality of character keys 25each'carried by a key lever 26 pivoted on a transverse rod 27 asaforesaid. Each key leverhas a downwardly projecting portion 28 having abifurcated lower'end to embrace a laterally directed pin 29 of a triplever 30 mounted for rocking movement 'on a pivot 31. Associated withthe trip lever 30 is .a rotatable cam 32 all as aforesaid. The cam 32 isa part of a unit'generally designated as 33 and includinga "bell crank1ever34'pivoted on a transverse rod 35. 'Itwill be understood that thereis a unit 33 corresponding to each of the character keys as in theformer? the invention illustrated in previous figures and thatutheseunits are preferably arranged in staggered relation'both in front of (tothe left, Figs. 1, 2 and 10) and'in rear' of '(to.the'right, Figs. 1, 2and 10) the power drive "roll 24. As far as possible-in describing thisfigure the same reference characters will be used so as to-indicate .thesimilar portions of the two forms of the device.

'Each lever 'device '34 has connected thereto at its outer end anddepending therefrom a slide member 138 for-the units 33 on the left oftheroll 24, Fig. 10, and 138a for those units on the right of the roll24 (these units not being shown in full .for clarity of illustration ofother parts). Each slidemember 138 has secured thereto a plurality oflaterally-extending buttons 139 of insulating material. Associated withcertain of these buttons, the number and arrangement depending upon 'theparticular code in use,.are a number of spring contact members 140,

eachiof which'is .mounted in a fixed manner at the right as.=seen forthe group-cooperating with slide member 138, and which 'arenormally heldspaced away from-a cor- -responding number of stationary contacts 141respectively, thearrangementbeing such that when the lever device '34 ismoved clockwise about the pivot 35,- the slide :member 138 is positivelymoved upwardly, permitting theresilient spring action of the contactmembers 140, which are provided in association with this particularslide member, to move them upwardly and make contactadjacent to'theirleft hand ends with the respective fixed contacts. 141. Thus,there will be completed one or more circuits, which may total six ormore in number, and which may be arranged as better illustrated in thecircuit diagram shown in Fig. 14to close the circuit to respectivelycorresponding relays, the several relays shown in thatffigure beingnumbered R1, R2,. R4, R8, R and R3. In Fig. 14, .it will be seen thatwhen the main power lines 142 and 143, are energized with suitablecurrent, and bail contacts "-144"hereinafterdescribed are closed, whichis, theqnormal condition for these contacts, a circuitmay-'be-pompletedfrom the line wire 142 throughwire 145, closed contacts144, wire 146, thence through whichever-ones of the key contactsareclosed in accordance with the code group corresponding to theparticular character to be printed and through the respective relays toline wire "143. Each of the key contacts is represented in Fig. 14 by acontact member 147 arranged to connect a pair of contacts 148 and 149which would complete a circuit,'for example, through the relay R3. Oncethis circuit is completed, the relay is held closed by relay contactsR3A (i. e.-the A contacts of relay R3 which are closed when the relay isenergized), and which complete a holding circuit for the relay.

The device described, therefore, furnishes a means for translating theselective and substantially instantaneous depression of each characterkey intothe proper combinationof electrical pulses of ash: member code,sons to close certain selected relays of the six provided. These relaysoperate through means hereinafter described to translate the electricalcode responsive means into the operation of the mosaic characterprinting typewriter.

Turning'now to the operation of the device in response to the closing ofthe one or-more of the relays in question, thereis provided a pluralityof magnet means, four of which-are shown as solenoids 150, 151, 152 and153 (Fig. 10). These solenoids and two more, not shown in'Fig. 10, butwhich are located in rear of some of the relays 'l50 through 153, arealso shown on Fig. 14 in which the additional solenoids, 154 and 155,are also diagrammatically illustrated. Each of these solenoids ('-155)is individually mechanically connected as by a link 156 (Fig. 10) to abell crank lever 157, a second arm of which actsas atriplever for arotatable cam 158, there-beingone suchrotatablecam andassociated-mechanism for each of the six solenoids 150 to 155,inclusive, and each-cam being'mounted on and connected, as shown in Fig.10, to operate a levermember 159 connected at itslower end tonne of thelongitudinally movable members 47 to-'52 '(Fig. 2), the-connection shownin Fig. 10 being between lever 159 and the movable member 51. It willbeunderstood thateach of the movable members 47 to 52 operates in the sameway respectively and through the same mechanism previously described inconnection with the other form of the apparatus toeffect first thepositioning of the-code rod means 61 in two directions at rightangles-to one another, so as to bring the code rod or coderodsconstituting the code rod means imposition to set the wires-for theprinting of a selected character. Inasmuch as the same type means areused forthesepurposes, these means, to the extent that they are shown inFigs. 10 to l3, are given the same reference characters as inthepreviously described figures of the drawings.

There is further provided in a manner similar tothatdescribedwithrespect tothe other form, a shift key (not shown indetail), but which isarranged to close a-circuit through a shift relayR6 (Fig. l4),-the circuit being closed by a key contact including amovable member shown diagrammatically at 160, arranged to make contactbetween points 161 and 162. Similarly, the A contacts ofrelayR6-(arranged to be closed when the relay is-energized) constitute theessentialelements of a-holding circuit, so that this relay is heldclosedby a circuit through contacts R6A as shown in'Fig. 14. This relayR6 also operates through its B contacts (R6B) to close acircuit througha solenoid 163 (Figs. 11 and 14). The-solenoid 163 is mechanicallyconnected through a link 164 to a bell crank lever 165 constituting atrip lever for a rotatable cam 166. This cam is mounted on the lower endof a lever 167 which willbe rotated in a counterclockwise directionaboutits pivot 168 .(as seen in Fig. 11) when the, cam 166 is permittedtoengage thepower drive roll 24. Motion is transmitted from ,thelever167- through 1a link 97 (as previously described, Fig. 5) to alever 98 pivoted at 99 13 and arranged to actuate a'wedge-means 100 Thisoperates a wedge and roller stack 81 inconjunction with the other wedgemeans associated with this stack to move a rack 86 meshing with apinion87 on the actuating rod 79 of the code rod 61.

From the above, it will be seen'that there is provided an electricallyactuated means'responsive to a seven element code for selectivelyactuating seven solenoids, which in turn control the transmission ofmechanical power from the power drive roll 24 for positioning the coderod and thus for operating the machine through a series of functionsequivalent to that effected mechanically in the first form of theapparatus.

Carrying the operation ofthis form through the next step, which istoetfect a relativemovement between the positioned code rod and the wireends in order to set the wires, each of the levers 159 has aportion 108projecting therefrom and arranged to cooperate with a flange 109 of atransverse bail 110, there being a suflicient distance between the loweredge of each projection 108 and the flange 109, so as to permit thesubstantial completion of the posit1oning of the code rod means prior tothe actuation of thebail 110 for elevating the code rod in a mannersubstantially equivalent to that. previously described. As shownparticularly in Fig. 12, the bail 110 is carried on one or more levers111 pivoted 'on the stationary transverse rod 35 and having a bifurcatedouter end portion for embracing a transversely extendingpinof a triplatch 115. This trip latch is effective, when released, to permit therotatable cam device 116 to engage the power drive roll 24, so as tomove the lever 117 in a counterclockwise. direction (as seen in Fig. 12)about its pivot 118 and thereby to move the wedge slide 120 to the right(also as seen in Fig. 12). This is elfective through the wedge means 121and the rollers 122carried by the code rod carriage 123 to raise thecode rod 61in the manner-previously described.

This operation is also effective in this form of the invention to permitthe separation of a pair of normally closed electrical contacts shown at144 in Fig. 12 and corresponding to the similarly numbered contactsshown in Fig. 14. Thus, when the bail 110 has been lowered, so as tohaveinitiated the raising of the positioned code rods, the contacts 144are opened so as to open the circuit to all the relays R1, R2, R3, R4,R5, R6 and R8, some or all of which were previously closed incident tothe positioning of the code rod. This brings the electrical circuit ofFig. 14 back to its original condition. The opening of the circuitthrough each of the several relays also causes the de-energization ofthose of the solenoids 150 through 155 and 163 which wereenergized andpermits the mechanical parts which were moved thereby to return to theirinitial positions respectively under the force of suitable, springs (notshown).

The remainder of the operation is substantially the same as previouslydescribed, it being noted that the solenoid used for moving the slidemember or wire reset bail 104 following the printing of a character isindicated in Fig. 14 at 169, which is energized by the B contacts of arelay R9, this relay being closed by a circuit initially made by theengagement of a pair of contacts as shown at 136 .(Fig. 8) and thecircuit being first held through a pair of contacts R9A constituting aholding circuit for relay R9 (Fig. 14) (similar to those previouslydescribed). This circuit is eventually broken by the movement of theslide member 104 in resetting the inertia blocks 103 of the wires 101 bydownward movement of the member 104 (Fig. 13). This downward movementoperates as previously described for the correspondingly numbered partsof the previous form of the invention and is eifective through a pushrod 170 carried by the bail 104 and extending loosely through a hole inthe fixed plate 102 to permit the opening of .a pair of electricalcontacts 171 (Figs. 13 and 14). Thus, whenthe bail 104 14 islowered forresetting the wires, the contacts 171 are permitted to open, whichbreaks the' circuit through the relay R9 and hence permits; thede-energizing of the solenoid 169, so that theslidetmember 104 may bereturned to its normal inoperativeposition (at thetop, as seen in Fig.13) by suitable springs (not shown).

From the foregoing, the-particular operation of the form of Figs. 10 to14 should now be obvious.

It will be understood, however, that while these instrumentalities shownin Figs.. 10 to 14 may be associated together in a single machine asshown, the electrical means including the several; relays described orequivalent means may be actuated by suitable pulses either derived fromthe actuation of some other'set of character keys which may be connectedin parallelto operate a plurality of machines or, alternatively, fromsome electrical controlling rneans, for example, a tape or a seriesof'perforated cards, so as to cause the present machine to print asuccession offcharacters substantially automatically and in response. tomechanical power derived from a continuously operating power 'drive rollas shown at 24. Furthermore,jthe meansherein shown and described forclosingjcircuits through aplurality of relays in accordance with apredeterminedacode in response to the depression of selected characterkeysgmay be used in accordance with the present invention for operatingone or more typewriters assh'erein described.

While there. are illustrated in the accompanying drawings andtherehave-been described two'principal forms of the invention and-other.modifications have been suggested, as the description proceeded,itisintended that the present invention: shall embrace all.v otherequivalents of the subject matter particularly described which maysuggest themselves to'thoserskilled .inthe art from the foregoing:disclosure. The invention," therefore, is' intended. to be limited onlyby the-appendedgclaims which areto be construedvalidly as-gbroadly asthe state of the art permits.

What is claimedds:

1. In a wire printing'itypewriter; meansfor confining,

a group of wires at one end-thereof in a movable character printinghead, means: adapted to support printing wires in said head'for free,solelyelongitudinal movement relative to each :other, printing wiressupported in said head as aforesaid, said wires having their oppositere-- mote ends arranged in predeterminedsubstantially parallel positionsrespectivelyin. a wireqsetting zone, a wire setting device'in saidzone,.-comprisingi-codercd means including at least; one coderodopposite. the remote ends of said wires at saidzpredeterminedpositions respectively, each said code'rod comprisinga'memberhaving apredetermined arrangement of depressions'therein and capable ofpositioningr'movement inttwo-directions at substantially right angles toea-ch-other-"and. both at substantially right anglestoi thetparallelendsof; said wires to bring certain bfsaiddepressions. into alignmentwith the remote ends of certain of. ;said wires ,rrespectively in.-accordance with a predetermined code, means for rela tively moving saidcodea'rod-zr'neans"and:said wires in a direction longitudinal of saidwires, so as to'set certain of said wires iii accordance with thecharacter to be printed, a continuously rotatingtopower"drive 'roll foractuated by said power: drive roll tor-positioning said code rod meansina second-directionatsubstantially right angles to thefirst'nameddirection, meansactuatedby said power drive roll aftersaid-code rod means has been positioned andsaid wiresset for moving saidprinting head to print a'character, andmeansinitiated in, its.

15 operation by the completion of the movement of said P t1ng head inprinting a character for retracting the wires 1n said head which wereprojected to print a character to a uniform retracted position inreadiness for the next wire setting operation for printing a succeedingcharacter.

2. A wire printing typewriterin accordance with claim '1, comprising inaddition, a plurality of character keys adapted for selective manualoperation, and means controlled by said character keys respectively andutilizing power from a source other than that serving to depress any ofsaid character keys for controlling said character selecting means.

3. In a wire printing typewriter, means for confining a group of wiresat one end thereof in a movable character printing head, means adaptedto support printing wires in said head for free, solely-longitudinalmovement relative to each other, printing wires supported in said headas aforesaid, said wires having their opposite remote ends arranged inpredetermined substantially parallel positions respectively in a wiresetting zone, a wire setting device in said zone, comprising code rodmeans including at least one code rod opposite the remote ends of saidwires at said predetermined positions respectively, each said code rodcomprising a member having a pre determined arrangement of depressionstherein and capable of movement in two directions at substantially rightangles to each other and both at substantially right angles to theparallel ends of said wires to bring certain of said depressions intoalignment with the remote ends of certain of said wires respectively inaccordance with a predetermined code, means for relatively moving saidcode rod means and said wires in a direction longitudinal of said wires,so as to set certain of said wires in accordance with the character tobe printed, a continuously rotating power drive roll for saidtypewriter, means actuated by said power drive roll for relativelymoving said code rod means and the remote ends of said wires asaforesaid, character selecting means, other means controlled by saidcharacter selecting means and actuated by said power drive roll forpositioning said code rod means in one direction, further meanscontrolled by said character selecting means and actuated by said powerdrive roll for positioning said code rod means in a second direction atsubstantially right angles to the first named direction, and meansactuated by said power drive roll after said code rod means has beenpositioned and said wires set for moving said printing head to print acharacter, said character selecting means comprising two groups ofmovable members, each of which groups consists of a plurality of movablemembers and each of the members of each said group being movable betweentwo terminal positions respectively, the first of said groups comprisinga plurality of members constructed and arranged to control thepositioning of said code rod means in one direction and the second ofsaid groups comprising a plurality of movable members constructed andarranged to control the positioning of said code rod means in saidsecond direction at substantially right angles to the first nameddirection as aforesaid. P

4. A wire printing typewriter in accordance with clalm 3, in which eachsaid code rod constitutes a member of substantially cylindrical contourwhich is movable axially and is also rotatable about its axis, themovable members of said first group being constructed and arranged tomove each said code rod axially by a number of increments depending uponwhich of said members are moved from one of their two positions to theother, and in which the movable members of said second group areconnected to rotate each said code rod by a number of predeterminedincrements in accordance with the positioning of the members of saidsecond group atone of their two positions or the other.

5. A wire printing typewriter in accordance with claim 4, in which saidfirst group of movable members consists,

of four similar members constructed and arranged to be selectivelyusable to give 1, 2, 4 and 8 times a predetermined unitary increment ofmovement axially to each said code rod, and in which said second groupconsists of two members constructed and arranged to control therotational positioning of each said code rod in increments of and with amaximum amplitude of rotational positioning of 270.

6. A wire printing typewriter in accordance with claim 5, comprising inaddition, a seventh movable member not included in either the first orthe second group aforesaid, means for moving said seventh member when itis desired to shift from one case to the other in the printing ofcharacters, and means controlled by said seventh movable member andactuated by said power drive roll for rotating said code rod throughsubstantially a 45 angle, so as to bring into alignment with the wireends a complete new set of coded depressions dependent upon thepositioning of each said code rod under the control of the first andsecond group of movable members.

7. A wire printing typewriter in accordance with claim 3, in which theoperation of said means for relatively moving said code rod means andsaid wires is initiated after a predetermined time delay following theoperation of positioning said code rod means as aforesaid, so that thepositioning of said code rod means will be completed prior to saidrelative movement between said code rod means and said wires for settingcertain of said wires selectively.

8. A wire printing typewriter in accordance with claim 3, comprising inaddition, a plurality of character keys adapted to be selectivelymanually depressed for controlling the operation of said wire printingtypewriter in printing corresponding characters respectively, code meanscontrolled in accordance with a predetermined code by said keysrespectively for controlling the operation of said movable members bypower applied from said power drive roll to move predetermined ones ofsaid movable members for each key respectively from one position of therespective movable members to the other position thereof, and meansarticulated to said movable members and including wedge means formechanically positioning said code rod means in response to themechanical movement of selected ones of said movable members, wherebypower for positioning said code rod means is transmitted from said powerdrive roll through the ones of said movable members selectivelyresponsive to each character key respectively and throughsaid wedgemeans.

9. A wire printing typewriter in accordance with claim 3, comprising inaddition, a plurality of character keys adapted to be selectivelymanually depressed for controlling the operation of said wire printingtypewriter in printing corresponding characters respectively, code meanscontrolled in accordance with a predetermined code by said keysrespectively for controlling the operation of said movable members bypower applied from said power drive roll to move predetermined ones ofsaid movable members for each key respectively from one position of therespective movable members to the other position thereof, meansarticulated to said movable members and including wedge means formechanically positioning said code rod means in response to mechanicalmovement of selected ones of said movable members, whereby power forpositioning said code rod means is transmitted from said power driveroll through the ones of said movable members selectively responsive toeach character key respectively and through said wedge means; a caseshift key, and means controlled in its operation by said case shift keyand actuated by power from said power drive roll for moving said coderod means in one of said two directions by an increment which is anuneven multiple of the increments of movement of said code rod meansbythose of said movable members which move said code rod means in thesame sense, so that'said code rod meansmay be provided with two completesets of wire setting means, one for upper case characters and one forlower case characters, and said case shift key may be eflective to bringone or the other of said two sets into position, to be determined by thefirst and second of said groups of movable members for printing upper orlower case characters respectively.

10. In a wire printing typewriter, means for confining a group of wiresat one end thereof in a movable character printing head, means adaptedto support printing wires in said head for free, solely-longitudinalmovement relative to each other, printing wires supported in said headas aforesaid, said wires having their opposite remote ends arranged inpredetermined substantially parallel positions respectively in a wiresetting Zone, a wire setting device in said zone, comprising code rodmeans including at least one code rod opposite the remote ends of saidwires at said predetermined positions respectively, each said code rodcomprising a member having a predetermined arrangement of depressionstherein and capable of movement in two directions at substantially rightangles to each other and both at substantially right angles to theparallel ends of said wires to bring certain of said depressions intoalignment with the remote ends of said wires respectively in accordancewith a predetermined code, means for relatively moving said code rodmeans and said wires in a direction longitudinal of said wires, so as toset certain of said wires in accordance with the character to beprinted, a continuously rotating power drive roll for said typewriter,means actuated by said power drive roll for relatively moving said coderod means and the remote ends of said wires as aforesaid, characterselecting means, other means con trolled by said character selectingmeans and actuated by said power drive roll for positioning said coderod means in one direction, further means controlled by said characterselecting means and actuated by said power drive roll for positioningsaid code rod means in a second direction at substantially right anglesto the first named direction; said character selecting means comprisingtwo groups of movable members, each of which groups consists of aplurality of movable members and each of the members of each said groupbeing movable between two terminal positions respectively, the first ofsaid groups comprising a plurality of members constructed and arrangedto control the positioning of said code rod means in one direction andthe second of said groups comprising a plurality of movable membersconstructed and arranged to control the positioning of said code rodmeans in said second direction at substantially right angles to thefirst named direction as aforesaid, means deriving power from said powerdrive roll for moving each of said movable members, electricallyactuated solenoid means for each of all saidmovable members respectivelyfor controlling the movement of said movable members by said power rollmeans, a plurality of character keys for controlling the characters tobe printed by said wire printing typewriter respectively and adapted tobe selectively manually depressed, and means selectively responsive tothe depression of each of said character keys, in accordance with apredetermined code, for energizing electric circuits to actuate saidsolenoids selectively to cause the actuation of certain of said movablemembers.

11. A wire printing typewriter in accordance with claim 10, in whichthere are six of said movable members for positioning said code rodmeans in accordance with a sixelement code, in which there is provided acase shift key, and in which a seventh movable member is providedadapted to be actuated electrically by said case shift key for movingsaid code rod means so as selectively to bring into wire settingpositions one set of wire setting parts for lower case characters andanother set of wire setting parts for upper case characters.

12. A wire printing typewriter in accordance with claim 10, in whicheach solenoid for each of said movable members is connected in a circuitrespectively; and in which there is also provided relay means in eachcircuit for holding the circuit closed once it has been instantaneouslyclosed by respectively associated character keys, and means actuated apredetermined time after the actuation of the code rod positioning meansand substantially simultaneous with the initiation of the relativemovement between said code rod means and said wires for deactivating allsaid circuits in preparation for a next operation thereof in positioningsaid code rod means for the printing of a succeeding character.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,028,037 Lilleberg May 28, 1912 2,129,065 Loop Sept. 6, 1938 2,334,534Ballweg Nov. 16, 1943 2,708,020 Wockenfuss May 10, 1955

